FROM RATINGS TO RATES FOR ABOVE-AVERAGE JOE
By James Massola

The Canberra Times
l/national/general/from-ratings-to-rates-for-above average-joe/1435534.aspx
Feb 17 2009
Australia

After five years of the Kev-and-Joe show on Sunrise, millions of
Australians must feel they know the Member for North Sydney.

But Joe Hockey’s jokey TV appearances and his public friendship with
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd ended some time ago.

A rumoured move to the NSW Parliament has not eventuated and some
staffers are already touting him as the next deputy Liberal leader.

Hockey’s first order of business to get on the front foot and get
the Coalition back on the economic scoreboard.

The son of an Armenian-Palestinian immigrant will have his work cut
out for him.

His opposite number, Treasurer Wayne Swan, and his old-sparring partner
Rudd believe Australia stands at an economic crossroads and they have
all the answers.

Hockey’s task is to wrong foot them and you can bet the proven
parliamentary and media performer won’t waste any time in trying to
prove them wrong.

With a recent history as a Coalition problem solver he took over the
near-impossible task of selling the unpopular WorkChoices after the
bland Kevin Andrews had failed to do so Hockey performed admirably.

On a hiding to nothing, few blamed him for the resounding thrashing
the former government suffered at the polls.